Wind direction adjustment device
The wind direction adjusting device with a cylindrical rotating body and opposing fins addresses the challenge of achieving both performance and appearance by ensuring effective air distribution and a slim design in limited spaces.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023115951
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-24
AI Technical Summary
Conventional wind direction adjustment devices with a rectangular frame shape face challenges in achieving both effective wind direction performance and a sharp external appearance, particularly in limited spaces.
A wind direction adjusting device with a cylindrical rotating body and fins that rotate in opposite directions, integrated with a ventilation passage design that includes expansion and reduction portions, allowing for efficient air distribution and a slim appearance.
Ensures wind direction performance while maintaining a discreet and aesthetically pleasing appearance, enhancing both functionality and visual appeal in confined installations.
Smart Images

Figure 2025012824000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an airflow direction adjustment device having an air passage whose cross section has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. [Background technology]
[0002] Conventionally, air conditioners used in vehicles such as automobiles include air direction adjustment devices that adjust the direction of air blown out. Air direction adjustment devices are also called air conditioner air blowing devices, air outlets, ventilators, registers, etc., and are installed in various parts of the vehicle, such as the instrument panel or center console, and contribute to improving comfort performance through heating and cooling.
[0003] Among such airflow direction adjustment devices, there is known one in which a rectangular frame-shaped barrel is rotatably arranged at a horizontally elongated air outlet so that airflow direction can be adjusted even in a small, limited space (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-70399 A (Pages 5-8, Figures 1-2) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] However, in the above configuration, since the barrel is in the shape of a rectangular frame, it is difficult to achieve a sharp appearance.
[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and has an object to provide a wind direction adjustment device that can be installed in a limited space while achieving both wind direction performance and appearance. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The air direction adjustment device described in claim 1 comprises a case body having an air passage therein whose cross section has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, a rotating body having a cylindrical outer surface and arranged in the air passage so as to be rotatable with a rotation axis along the longitudinal direction, and a fin having a rotation axis along the longitudinal direction and arranged in the air passage so as to be rotatable in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the rotating body in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body, and distributes air in the air passage along the outer surfaces of the rotating body and the fin.
[0008] The airflow direction adjustment device according to claim 2 is the airflow direction adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the fin is located on the upstream side of the rotating body in the air passage in the air flow direction.
[0009] The airflow direction adjustment device of claim 3 is the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 1, wherein the case body has an expansion section which expands the air passage in the short direction of the cross section from the upstream side to the downstream side in the air flow direction, and a reduction section which is located downstream of the expansion section in the air flow direction of the air passage and reduces the air passage in the short direction of the cross section from the upstream side to the downstream side in the air flow direction, and the rotating body is located between the expansion section and the reduction section in the air flow direction of the air passage.
[0010] The airflow direction adjustment device according to claim 4 is the airflow direction adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a connection portion that connects the rotating body and the fin. Effect of the Invention
[0011] According to the wind direction adjustment device described in claim 1, the configuration uses a rotating body and fins, allowing it to be installed in a limited space, while ensuring wind direction performance by linking the rotating body and fins so that they rotate in opposite directions.The configuration is also inconspicuous, and appearance can be ensured, so that both wind direction performance and appearance can be achieved.
[0012] According to the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 1, since the outer surface of the rotating body seen from the user side is cylindrical, the appearance does not appear to change regardless of the direction in which the air-conditioned air is directed by rotating the rotating body, so that the airflow direction can be controlled without changing the appearance from the user's perspective.
[0013] According to the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 3, in addition to the effects of the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 1, the expansion section can expand the air passage in the short direction of the cross section to ensure space for placing the rotating body, while the reduction section can give a slim appearance.In addition, the air conditioning wind flowing along the outer surface of the rotating body is blown out along the slope created by the reduction section, thereby improving the air distribution performance.
[0014] According to the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the airflow direction adjustment device of any one of claims 1 to 3, the rotation of the rotating body and the rotation of the fins can be easily linked in opposite directions by the connecting part. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0015] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views showing an airflow direction adjustment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a neutral state and (b) shows a state in which the airflow direction is shifted to one side. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the airflow direction of an airflow direction adjustment device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shifted to one side. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an airflow direction control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an airflow direction control device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an airflow direction control device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the airflow direction of an airflow direction adjustment device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is shifted to one side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017] In Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, 1 is an airflow direction adjustment device. The airflow direction adjustment device 1 is also called an air outlet, a ventilator, a register, etc., and adjusts the blowing direction of air from an air conditioner or the like. In the following, in order to clarify the explanation, the leeward side of the airflow direction adjustment device 1, which is the side from which airflow blows out, is defined as the front side, the front side, or the near side, and the opposite side, that is, the upwind side, which is the side that receives airflow, is defined as the rear side, the back side, or the far side, and the left-right direction or width direction as viewed from the front side, and the up-down direction are defined. In this embodiment, the airflow direction adjustment device 1 is applied to an air conditioner for a vehicle such as an automobile. The airflow direction adjustment device 1 may be disposed in any position, but in the drawings, it is disposed so that the side indicated by the arrow FR is the front side, the side indicated by the arrow RR is the rear side, the side indicated by the arrow L is the left side, the side indicated by the arrow R is the right side, the side indicated by the arrow U is the upper side, and the side indicated by the arrow D is the lower side. These directions are merely illustrated as examples, and are to be changed as appropriate depending on the installation position and installation direction of the airflow direction adjustment device 1.
[0018] The airflow direction adjustment device 1 includes a case body 3. The case body 3 is also called a duct. The case body 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the case body 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape in the front-rear direction. In the illustrated example, the case body 3 is formed in a square cylindrical shape. The case body 3 surrounds an air passage 5 inside. The direction parallel to the central axis of the case body 3 is the air passage direction of the air passage 5. In this embodiment, the air passage direction of the air passage 5 is the front-rear direction, and air is passed from the rear to the front. That is, in the air passage 5, the rear side is the upstream side of the air passage direction, and the front side is the downstream side of the air passage direction. In the following, the upstream side of the air passage 5 in the air passage direction is simply referred to as the upstream side, and the downstream side of the air passage direction is simply referred to as the downstream side.
[0019] The case body 3 has a predetermined length in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5. In this embodiment, the case body 3 is flat in the vertical direction and elongated in the horizontal direction, that is, formed horizontally. Therefore, the airflow direction adjustment device 1 is formed in a horizontal thin shape. That is, the cross section of the air passage 5 is substantially rectangular with a longitudinal direction in the horizontal direction and a lateral direction in the vertical direction. An inlet 6 that receives air, i.e., conditioned air, is formed in the air passage 5 at the rear end of the case body 3, and an outlet 7 that discharges the conditioned air from the air passage 5 is formed at the front end of the case body 3. An air passage 5 that communicates between the inlet and the outlet 7 is formed between them. The conditioned air passes from the inlet 6 to the outlet 7. The inlet 6 and the outlet 7 are each horizontally elongated.
[0020] Preferably, the case body 3 is formed with a tubular portion 10 that divides the air passage 5 into a constant or approximately constant shape, an expansion portion 11 that is connected to the tubular portion 10 and expands the air passage 5 in the short direction of the cross section from the upstream side to the downstream side, a tubular portion 12 that is connected to the expansion portion 11 and divides the air passage 5 into a constant or approximately constant shape, and a reduction portion 13 that is connected to the tubular portion 12 and reduces the air passage 5 in the short direction of the cross section from the upstream side to the downstream side.
[0021] The cylindrical portion 10 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape. The upstream end of the cylindrical portion 10 serves as the inlet 6. The cylindrical portion 10 has a range having a predetermined length in the ventilation direction of the ventilation path 5.
[0022] The expansion section 11 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape and is inclined in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5 from the tubular section 10 to the tubular section 12 so as to expand in the short direction of the cross section of the air passage 5, which in this embodiment is the vertical direction.
[0023] The cylindrical portion 12 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape. The cylindrical portion 12 has a predetermined length in the ventilation direction of the ventilation path 5.
[0024] The contraction section 13 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape and is inclined so as to contract from the cylindrical section 12 to the downstream side of the air passage 5 in the short direction of the cross section of the air passage 5, which is the up-down direction in this embodiment. In other words, the contraction section 13 is located downstream of the air passage 5 relative to the expansion section 11. The downstream end of the contraction section 13 serves as the air outlet 7.
[0025] The case body 3 may be formed integrally or may be formed by combining a plurality of members. For example, in this embodiment, the case body 3 is divided in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5, and has a case body main body part 15 that constitutes the majority of the upstream side of the air passage 5, and a finisher 16 that constitutes the downstream end of the air passage 5, i.e., the periphery of the air outlet 7. In the illustrated example, the case body main body part 15 constitutes the cylindrical part 10, the expansion part 11, and the cylindrical part 12, and the finisher 16 constitutes the reduction part 13. In the illustrated example, the case body main body part 15 is composed of a first main body part 15a that constitutes the front side of the cylindrical part 12, a second main body part 15b that constitutes the rear side of the cylindrical part 12, the expansion part 11, and the upper side of the cylindrical part 10, and a third main body part 15c that constitutes the rear side of the cylindrical part 12, the expansion part 11, and the lower side of the cylindrical part 10. The finisher 16 constitutes a design part of the air direction adjustment device 1. The finisher 16 may be formed integrally with, for example, an installation target (such as an instrument panel or a center console).
[0026] 1(a), 1(b) and 2, a rotating body 20 and fins 21 are disposed inside the case body 3, i.e., in the air passage 5. The rotating body 20 and the fins 21 rotate relative to the case body 3 (air passage 5) in conjunction with each other, thereby adjusting the wind direction of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet 7 in response to the rotation.
[0027] The rotating body 20 is also called a drum. The outer surface of the rotating body 20 is a flow-straightening surface that is an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical surface. The rotating body 20 may be cylindrical or cylindrical. The rotating body 20 is elongated in the axial direction, and is disposed in the air passage 5 so as to be rotatable about its central axis as a rotation axis. That is, the rotating body 20 has rotating parts 23 at both ends along the central axis. The rotating part 23 is rotatably held by the rotation receiving part 24. One of the rotating part 23 and the rotation receiving part 24 is an axis part, and the other is a hole part or a recess part. In this embodiment, the rotating part 23 is an axis part, and the rotation receiving part 24 is a round hole part or a recess part.
[0028] The rotating body 20 is arranged with its rotation axis aligned along the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the air passage 5, which is the left-right direction in this embodiment, and is rotatable in the short-side direction of the cross section, that is, in the up-down direction. That is, the rotating body 20 is arranged in the air passage 5 with the rotating part 23 positioned in the left-right direction. The rotating body 20 is located close to the air outlet 7, and its front side is visible from the air outlet 7. The diameter of the rotating body 20 is set to be larger than the short-side dimension of the air outlet 7, which is the up-down dimension in this embodiment. The rotating body 20 is located in the center of the short-side direction of the cross section, which is the up-down direction in this embodiment, in the air passage 5. In this embodiment, the rotating body 20 is located between the expansion part 11 and the contraction part 13 of the case body 3 in the front-rear direction, which is the ventilation direction of the air passage 5. In the illustrated example, the rotating body 20 is located slightly away from the air outlet 7 on the upstream side of the air passage 5 and in the cylindrical part 12.
[0029] The fin 21 is also called an airflow control plate, a plate, a louver, or the like. The fin 21 is formed in a plate shape with one main surface and the other main surface being a straightening surface. The fin 21 is formed in a longitudinal shape and is arranged in the air passage 5 so as to be rotatable with a rotation axis in the longitudinal direction. That is, the fin 21 is arranged side by side with the rotating body 20, and has a rotating part 26 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, a single fin 21 is set. In the illustrated example, the rotating part 26 is located at the center of the fin 21 in the short direction. The rotating part 26 is held by the rotating receiving part 27 so as to be rotatable and slidable. One of the rotating part 26 and the rotating receiving part 27 is an axis part, and the other is a hole part or a recess part. In this embodiment, the rotating part 26 is an axis part, and the rotating receiving part 27 is an oblong hole part or a recess part along the ventilation direction of the air passage 5.
[0030] The fin 21 is arranged with its rotation axis aligned along the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the air passage 5, which is the left-right direction in this embodiment, and is rotatable in the short direction of the cross section, i.e., the up-down direction. That is, the fin 21 is arranged in the air passage 5 with the rotating part 26 positioned in the left-right direction, and the rotating part 26 is slidable in the front-rear direction on the rotation receiving part 27. The fin 21 is located adjacent to the upstream side of the air passage 5 with respect to the rotating body 20. In this embodiment, the downstream end of the fin 21 is close to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body 20 with almost no gap. In the ventilation direction of the air passage 5, the downstream side of the fin 21 is located between the expanding part 11 and the reducing part 13, and the upstream end extends to the cylindrical part 10.
[0031] The rotation receiving portions 24 and 27 may be formed in the case body 3, but in this embodiment, they are formed in a bearing portion 29 that is separate from the case body 3. The bearing portion 29 is also called a spacer. The bearing portion 29 may be integral with the left and right side walls of the case body 3, or may be separate from the case body 3. In this embodiment, the bearing portion 29 is separate from the case body 3 and is disposed adjacent to the left and right side walls of the case body 3 in the air passage 5. The bearing portion 29 is set at both ends of the fin 21 and the rotating body 20 in the longitudinal direction. The rotation receiving portion 24 and the rotation receiving portion 27 do not necessarily have to be formed in the same bearing portion 29, and may be formed in different members.
[0032] The fin 21 and the rotating body 20 are connected via a connecting portion 31 so that their rotation directions are opposite to each other. The connecting portion 31 may be formed integrally with either the fin 21 or the rotating body 20, or may be a link body separate from the fin 21 and the rotating body 20. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 31 is formed on the rotating body 20, and a connecting receiving portion 32 that receives the connecting portion 31 is formed on the fin 21.
[0033] The connecting portion 31 is formed extending from the rotating body 20 to the fin 21. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 31 extends in the radial direction of the rotating body 20. The connecting portion 31 is formed at each of both ends of the rotating body 20 in the longitudinal direction. The connecting portion 31 is formed with a rotating portion 33 that is rotatably connected to the connection receiving portion 32. The rotating body 20 is formed of one or more members, and in this embodiment, for example, is divided into two by an imaginary plane including a central axis, a member 20a having the connecting portion 31 and a member 20b not having the connecting portion 31.
[0034] The connection receiving portions 32 are formed at both longitudinal ends of the downstream end of the fin 21 adjacent to the rotating body 20 .
[0035] One of the rotating portion 33 and the connecting receiving portion 32 is a shaft portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recessed portion. In this embodiment, the rotating portion 33 is a round hole portion or a recessed portion, and the connecting receiving portion 32 is a shaft portion.
[0036] Either the rotating body 20 or the fin 21 can be operated by a user such as a passenger via an operation unit (not shown). The operation unit may be a manually operable unit such as a dial, or may be electrically operated using an actuator such as a motor.
[0037] In addition, one or more other fins 35 may be arranged inside the case body 3, i.e., in the air passage 5. In this embodiment, the other fin 35 is an upstream fin located upstream of the fin 21 in the air passage 5. For example, the other fin 35 is located inside the cylindrical portion 10. The other fin 35 is formed in a plate shape with one main surface and the other main surface being a straightening surface. The other fin 35 is formed longitudinally in the front-rear direction and is arranged in the air passage 5 rotatably with a rotation axis in the short side direction. The other fin 35 is arranged rotatably in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the rotation direction of the fin 21, which is the left-right direction that is the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the air passage 5 in this embodiment. In other words, the other fin 35 is one that has a rotation axis in the up-down direction and can rotate in the left-right direction.
[0038] In the illustrated example, a plurality of other fins 35 are set. Each of the other fins 35 includes a rotating portion 36 and a link portion 37, and the rotating portion 36 is rotatably held by the rotation receiving portion, and the link portion 37 is rotatably held by the link receiving portion 38. The link receiving portion 38 is formed on a link 39, and the other fins 35 are connected by the link 39 so that they rotate in the same direction in conjunction with each other. One of the rotating portion 36 and the rotation receiving portion is an axle portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recessed portion. In this embodiment, the rotating portion 36 is an axle portion, and the rotation receiving portion is a hole portion or a recessed portion. Similarly, one of the link portion 37 and the link receiving portion 38 is an axle portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recessed portion. In this embodiment, the link portion 37 is an axle portion, and the link receiving portion 38 is a hole portion or a recessed portion.
[0039] The other fins 35 can be operated by a user such as a passenger via an operation unit (not shown). The operation unit may be a manually operable unit such as a dial, or may be electrically operated using an actuator such as a motor.
[0040] Furthermore, inside the case body 3, that is, in the ventilation passage 5, a shut valve may be provided that rotates relative to the case body 3 to open and close the ventilation passage 5 in response to the rotation.
[0041] In the air direction adjustment device 1 in the neutral state shown in Figure 1 (a), the conditioned air flows from the upper and lower main surfaces of the horizontal fins 21 along the upper and lower outer peripheral surfaces of the rotating body 20 close to the downstream end of the fins 21, and is blown out in the front direction from the air outlet 7 due to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 20 and the inclination of the reduction section 13.
[0042] When either the rotating body 20 or the fin 21, for example the rotating body 20, is rotated vertically by the operating unit from the neutral state shown in FIG. 1(a), the connecting portion 31 formed on the rotating body 20 rotates vertically around the rotating portion 23. The fin 21, which is rotatably connected at a position downstream of the rotating portion 26 via the connecting portion 31 and the connecting receiving portion 32, moves downstream in the rotation direction of the connecting portion 31. Therefore, the fin 21 rotates in the opposite direction to the rotating body 20 around the rotating portion 26, which slides forward along the rotating receiving portion 27, which is the direction approaching the air outlet 7. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1(b), the fin 21 rotates counterclockwise in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body 20 in the clockwise direction. This rotation brings the upstream end of the fin 21 close to the inner wall of the case body 3, and in the illustrated example, close to the lower inner wall of the case body 3, narrowing (blocking) the portion of the air passage 5 that continues from the cylindrical portion 10 to the lower side of the expansion portion 11. Thus, the conditioned air flows from the upper main surface of the fin 21 along the upper outer circumferential surface of the rotating body 20 that is close to the downstream end of this fin 21, and is blown downward from the air outlet 7 along the upper outer circumferential surface of the rotating body 20 and the inclination of the reduction portion 13. At this time, the Coanda effect caused by the curvature of the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body 20 improves the directionality of the wind.
[0043] Incidentally, the operation when the rotating body 20 is rotated counterclockwise is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 1(b) except that the up-down direction is reversed, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.
[0044] The airflow direction in the left-right direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the air passage 5, is adjusted by rotating the other fins 35 using the operating portion.
[0045] Therefore, by combining these, it is possible to adjust the wind direction in any direction, up, down, left or right.
[0046] In this manner, according to this embodiment, the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 having cylindrical outer surfaces are rotatably arranged in the air passage 5, and the fins 21 are made rotatable in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the rotating body 20 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body 20. By distributing air along the outer surfaces of the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 in the air passage 5, it is possible to configure the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 in a limited space, while ensuring wind direction performance by linking the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 to rotate in opposite directions to each other, and the configuration is not noticeable from the user through the air outlet 7, and appearance can be ensured, so that both wind direction performance and appearance can be achieved.
[0047] Furthermore, by arranging the fins 21 upstream of the rotating body 20 in the air passage 5 in the air flow direction, the fins 21 are basically invisible from the user side through the air outlet 7, and only the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 20 is visible from the user side. Because the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 20 is cylindrical, no matter in which direction the air-conditioned air is distributed by the rotation of the rotating body 20, the appearance does not appear to change from the air outlet 7, so the air direction can be controlled without changing the way the air direction adjustment device 1 is viewed by the user.
[0048] In the case body 3, an expansion section 11 that expands the air passage 5 in the short side direction of the cross section from the upstream side to the downstream side in the ventilation direction, and a reduction section 13 that is located downstream of the expansion section 11 and reduces the air passage 5 in the short side direction of the cross section from the upstream side to the downstream side in the ventilation direction, are formed, and the rotating body 20 is disposed between the expansion section 11 and the reduction section 13 in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5, so that the expansion section 11 can expand the air passage 5 in the short side direction of the cross section to secure a space for arranging the rotating body 20, and the reduction section 13 can slim down the appearance from the air outlet 7 side, i.e., the user side. In addition, the conditioned air flowing along the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body 20 is blown out from the air outlet 7 along the inclination of the reduction section 13, so that the air distribution performance can be improved.
[0049] By connecting the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 with the connecting portion 31, the rotation of the rotating body 20 and the rotation of the fins 21 can be easily linked in opposite directions by the connecting portion 31.
[0050] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Note that the same configurations and operations as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0051] In the airflow direction control device 1 of the present embodiment, the other fins 35 are located downstream of the fins 21 in the air passage 5 and between the fins 21 and the rotating body 20.
[0052] The other fin 35 has the rotating portion 36 located at the upstream end. The other fin 35 also has a notch 41 at its downstream end, through which the rotating body 20 is inserted. The notch 41 is provided to prevent interference between the other fin 35 and the rotating body 20 within the rotating range of the other fin 35. Due to this notch 41, the downstream end of the other fin 35 is positioned opposite the reduction section 13 near the air outlet 7, as shown in FIG.
[0053] 5, a notch 43 is formed at the downstream end of fin 21 facing rotating body 20 and other fins 35 to prevent interference between the other fins 35 and fin 21 within the rotation range of the other fins 35. In this embodiment, since there are multiple other fins 35, fin 21 is formed with multiple notches 43 arranged intermittently in the longitudinal direction according to the number of other fins 35. The notches 43 are formed so as to gradually expand toward the downstream side of air passage 5 in the left-right direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the cross section of air passage 5.
[0054] Therefore, as in the first embodiment, when one of the rotating body 20 and the fin 21, for example the rotating body 20, is rotated in the vertical direction by the operating unit (in the example shown in FIG. 4, the rotating body 20 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction), the connecting portion 31 formed on the rotating body 20 rotates up and down around the rotating portion 23. The fin 21, which is rotatably connected at a position downstream of the rotating portion 26 via the connecting portion 31 and the connecting receiving portion 32, moves on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the connecting portion 31. Therefore, the fin 21 rotates in the opposite direction to the rotating body 20 (clockwise direction in the example shown in FIG. 4) around the rotating portion 26, which slides forward along the rotating receiving portion 27, which is the direction approaching the air outlet 7. Due to this rotation, the upstream end of the fin 21 approaches the inner wall of the case body 3, narrowing (blocking) a part of the air passage 5. The conditioned air flows from the upper or lower main surface of the fin 21 along the upper or lower outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 20 close to the downstream end of the fin 21, and is blown upward or downward from the air outlet 7 along the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 20 and the inclination of the reduction section 13.
[0055] The airflow direction in the left-right direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the air passage 5, can be adjusted by rotating the other fins 35 using the operating part. The other fins 35 do not interfere with the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 over the entire rotation range due to the cutouts 41 and 43.
[0056] In this way, according to the second embodiment, the rotating body 20 having a cylindrical outer surface and the fins 21 are rotatably arranged in the air passage 5, and the fins 21 are rotatable in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotating body 20 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body 20, and air is distributed along the outer surfaces of the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 in the air passage 5, thereby having a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, making it possible to install the device in a limited space while achieving both wind direction performance and appearance, and thereby achieving the same effects as the first embodiment.
[0057] In addition, by forming a notch 41 in the other fin 35 and forming a notch 43 in the fin 21 and arranging the other fin 35 between the fin 21 and the rotating body 20, the rotating body 2, the fin 21 and the other fins 35 can be arranged closely together, and the case body 3 can be shortened in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5, so that the air direction adjustment device 1 can be configured compactly and can be arranged in a more space-saving manner.
[0058] In each embodiment, the connecting portion 31 is not limited to extending from the rotating body 20, but may extend from the fin 21. For example, as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the connecting portion 31 may extend from the end of the fin 21 in the longitudinal direction toward the rotating body 20, the rotating portion 33 may be formed near the tip, and the connecting receiving portion 32 may be disposed in a recess 45 formed in the end of the rotating body 20 in the longitudinal direction. Also, as in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the rotating portion 33 of the connecting portion 31 may be an axis portion, and the connecting receiving portion 32 may be a recess. Furthermore, the connecting portion 31 is not limited to being formed at the end of the rotating body 20 or the fin 21 in the longitudinal direction, but may be formed near the center, as in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 8. In this example, recesses 47 for avoiding interference with the connecting portion 31 are formed on the side of the rotating body 20 facing the fin 21, separated from each other on the left and right, and the connecting receiving portion 32 is formed on the side of these recesses 47. In these embodiments, too, the rotating body 20 and fins 21 having cylindrical outer surfaces are rotatably arranged in the air passage 5, and the fins 21 are rotatable in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotating body 20 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body 20, and air is distributed along the outer surfaces of the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 in the air passage 5, so that the configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment, and thus the configuration can be configured to be installed in a limited space while achieving both wind direction performance and appearance, and similar effects can be achieved as in the first embodiment.
[0059] Furthermore, the fin 21 may be located on the upstream side or downstream side of the air passage 5 with respect to the rotating body 20. For example, as in the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the fin 21 may be located on the downstream side of the air passage 5 with respect to the rotating body 20, and may be located between the rotating body 20 and the air outlet 7. In this configuration, at least the downstream end of the fin 21 is located in a position where it can be seen from the user side through the air outlet 7. Furthermore, the contracted portion 13 of the case body 3 is longer in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5 and has a gentler inclination than a configuration in which the fin 21 is located upstream of the rotating body 20 in the air passage 5. The rotating body 20 and the fin 21 are located between the expanded portion 11 and the contracted portion 13 of the case body 3 in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5.
[0060] Then, when either the rotating body 20 or the fin 21, for example the rotating body 20, is rotated in the vertical direction by the operating unit from the neutral state, the connecting portion 31 formed on the rotating body 20 rotates up and down around the rotating portion 23. The fin 21, which is rotatably connected at a position upstream of the rotating portion 26 via the connecting portion 31 and the connecting receiving portion 32, moves on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the connecting portion 31. Therefore, the fin 21 rotates in the opposite direction to the rotating body 20 around the rotating portion 26, which slides rearward along the rotating receiving portion 27, which is a direction away from the air outlet 7. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the fin 21 rotates counterclockwise in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body 20 in the clockwise direction. This rotation brings the downstream ends of the fins 21 close to the inner wall of the case body 3, and in the illustrated example, closes to the upper inner wall of the case body 3, narrowing (blocking) the portion of the air passage 5 that continues from the cylindrical portion 12 to the upper side of the reduced portion 13. Thus, the conditioned air flows from the lower outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 20 along the lower main surface of the fins 21, and is blown out upward from the air outlet 7 along the lower main surface of the fins 21 and the inclination of the reduced portion 13.
[0061] In this way, in the sixth embodiment, the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 having cylindrical outer surfaces are rotatably arranged in the air passage 5, and the fins 21 are rotatable in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotating body 20 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body 20, and air is distributed along the outer surfaces of the rotating body 20 and the fins 21 in the air passage 5, etc., and by having a configuration similar to that of each of the other embodiments, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the first embodiment, such as being able to achieve both wind direction performance and appearance while being configured to be installable in a limited space.
[0062] Moreover, by arranging the fins 21 on the downstream side of the air passage 5 with respect to the rotating body 20, the wind direction adjustment function can be further improved.
[0063] Furthermore, in each embodiment, the wind direction control device 1 is not limited to being used in an automobile, but may be used for any other purpose. [Industrial Applicability]
[0064] The present invention can be suitably used, for example, as a wind direction adjustment device for an air conditioner in an automobile. [Explanation of symbols]
[0065] 1 Wind direction adjustment device 3 Case body 5. Air passage 11 Extension 13 Reduction section 20 Rotating Body 21 Finn 31 Connecting part
Claims
1. A case body having an internal ventilation passage whose cross section has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction; a rotating body having a rotation axis along the longitudinal direction and rotatably disposed in the air passage, the rotating body having a cylindrical outer surface; a fin having a rotation axis along the longitudinal direction and arranged in the air passage so as to be rotatable in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotating body in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body, In the air passage, air is distributed along the outer surfaces of the rotating body and the fins. A wind direction adjustment device characterized by the above.
2. The fin is located upstream of the rotating body in the ventilation path in the ventilation direction.
2. The airflow direction adjusting device according to claim 1.
3. The case body is An expansion portion that expands the ventilation path in a short direction of a cross section from the upstream side to the downstream side in the ventilation direction; a narrowing portion located downstream of the expansion portion in the ventilation direction of the ventilation passage and narrowing the ventilation passage in the short direction of the cross section from the upstream side to the downstream side in the ventilation direction, The rotating body is disposed between the expanding portion and the contracting portion in the ventilation direction of the ventilation passage.
2. The airflow direction adjusting device according to claim 1.
4. A connecting portion is provided to connect the rotating body and the fin.
4. The airflow direction adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the airflow direction adjusting device is a wind direction adjusting device.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Air-conditioning register
JP2021070399A